The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-19
HOW TO INTERVIEW
 MARK.
BY LUKE SHARP.

going, says: "Mark Twain is here. Rumor has it that the genial tramp has rented fine mansion in Norfolk for year from an M. P., and is whil- ing away his time betwixt yachting on the Norfolk Broads, entertaining some Dutch friends and working on his Library of Wit and Humor,' which 1 wish to remark and do freely maintain, that the genial Mark, whose surname is Twain, is heartily welcome in England as long as he likes to re- main." That is all right, still there are some things about it that don't please the genial humorist himself. When MT. Clemens is in place he likes to have Mark Twain along for company. In fact, the two are insep- arabic and have been for years. Mir. Clemens was About 25 years old when he became acquainted with Mark Twain, and since that time where one has gone the other, like Mary's little lamb, was sure to go. Therefore Mir. Clemens, who is in Hartford, is an- noyed to learn that Mark has given him the slip and gone to England without him.
 noticed last week that a newspa- per man in New York said that Mark Twain was getting to be very uppish and refused to be interviewed on any subject whatever. I think this does the humorist great injustice. He is one of the most democratic men ever met. Ihave had the pleasure of talk ing with him several times and one of the occasions was on his last reading tour, when he was making more money in week than most men make in year, yet even then he was quite approachable. The New York inter- viewer doesn't go about it in the right way. If you take Mark right he is the most genial of men and will not only make any statement you like, but will willingly contradict himself half dozen times if you want him to, or if he notices that such things please you. All you have to do is to take a good six shooter and get him up ill Q corner, "cover him" as they say in the west, and then Mark is your man. A revolver loves 8 shining Mark any how. It takes some little practice to "cover" man with pistol and at the same time write down what he says without allowing him to get the drop on you, but by practicing at a Mark the art can be acquired.
 will say this for Mark. He cares nothing for style, and 1 have myself interviewed him at the muzzle ot an old rusty shotgun loaded with slugs, and under these circumstances he seemed as nervously anxious to say just what would suit the colums of a newspaper as if had had the incest nickle- plated revolver. Now I like a man like that and don't hesitate to say 80. Some particular people would make disparaging remarks about the weapon. MT. Twain doesn't. He re- spects the feelings of others. He may say in the mildest manner possible that he would be obliged if you held the muzzle little lower down, as he would rather lose leg if the thing went off than have his digestive ap- paratus interfered with-that, in fact, he was troubled with dyspepsia, any, how, and hated to take anything that would aggravate the matter; but I don't consider request like that at all uppish. It is downish if any thing, and then it must be remembered that all men have their little preferences. Where it is practicable think these preferences should be respected, and know no one will be quicker to admit that Ialways respected them than Mir. Mark Twain himself.
 Another thing that shows the good nature of Mark Twain is the fact that he does not object to write letter if it is necessary. Now, many men will submit to an interview rather than write letter. I would, myself When land in New York or in Liver pool and the reporters are breaking their necks to get over the steamers side to interview me, always submit with whatever grace can command, but l never write letter if I can avoid it. This is partly because I expect to run for office some day, but principally because l am too lazy to take unnec- essary trouble. When person is in- terviewed the other fellow has to do the writing and get as many mistakes to the square inch as he possibly can. l have in my possession long letter from Mark Twain that was written ten years or more ago. I am waiting impatiently until he dies, and then will spring it on the public. It is the funniest letter I ever saw. I have some thoughts of running it into one of the magazine war articles when the Century gets round to the experiences of those of us who were never in the war. Later thought it might fit in the life of Lincoln, but these are mere matters of detail that will be settled afterward, if Mark is not kind enough to go off the hooks before that time,